Greystones Host Grand Slam-Winning Coaches

Greystones RFC were delighted to welcome the RBS 6 Nations and Triple Crown trophies to Dr Hickey Park last Saturday, with members of the Grand Slam-winning management team the guests of club Preseident Peter Butler at a lunch prior to 'Stones' Division Two clash with UCC.

Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton, himself a former player, coach and President of Greystones, forwards coach Gert Smal, backs coach Alan Gaffney and defence coach Les Kiss were welcomed by an enthusiastic audience when they entered with the trophies.

As the assembled guests and members of Greystones sat down, the club President Peter Butler made reference to the fact that the top table had a vacant seat and with a masterful show of timing, he announced to a surprised audience that the chair was for the man himself, Declan Kidney, who then entered the room to even more thunderous applause.

When the excitement died down and Declan was asked to speak, he said that he was on his way down the country and had phoned Paul to see if he could drop in for a cup of tea, to which Paul replied that we might be able to do a little better with a lunch!

As is usual for Declan, he was modest and praiseworthy of his players and staff and would like to have stayed for a 'real' match (Greystones v UCC) but he had anoher appointment.

After the meal there was a question-and-answer session by the three coaches, with Alan being asked for his 'Irish Lions' - he named 10 Irish players in the travelling party - and in answer to another question he said that he had no doubt that we could repeat the Grand Slam in future.

Gert was asked about the future of Irish rugby and how did he see us going in the World Cup? He said that, on the back of this season and with the progress he has seen in Irish rugby, he would be delighted to be part of the team that would do the business.

Two other questions, answered by Les, were very illuminating. Question one was what did they (the coaches) feel as Stephen Jones stepped up for the final penalty? He said that all three of them and Paul were standing up when Declan, as calm as could be, told them to quietly sit down.

The second question, again taken by Les, was what had gone through the minds of the players as they watched Jones run up? He said that they stood tall and almost dared him to kick it and willed him to miss.

One final question came from Ken Ging, the former Leinster manager and Greystones stalwart, which he addressed to Paul.

"Paul," he said with a grin, "was this Grand Slam as good as the one you were involved with in '48?"

After the Greystones v UCC game, the trophies were once again put on display with the three coaches posing for photographs for a mass of children - and adults!

In fact, they stood for two hours patiently posing for photos and were delighted at how many people showed up.

Not forgetting that the main reason for the lunch was for UCC, their President Nollaig Parfrey was fulsome in his praise for the pullng power of Greystones RFC in being able to have the trophies and coaches in the club.

He also wished that as UCC are at the top of the Division Two table, that they would be grateful if Greystones 'allowed' ('Stones were very generous and even allowed them to get a bonus point) them to remain so and that they would 'oblige' the Wicklow side at some future date!

The countdown is on to the Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23. Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens & Women's Rugby, previews what promises to be an exciting couple of days.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Jenny Murphy talks about the progress made by the Ireland Women's Sevens team and their pool draw for the upcoming Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Conor Murray and Tommy Bowe speak to Irish Rugby TV about their Rugby World Cup preparations and thank the thousands of supporters who came out to see the players at the open training session at the Sportsground.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell gives his verdict on the team's new Rugby World Cup jersey and talks about his move to French club Toulon. Ireland's RWC 2015 range is available to pre-order now from http://shop.irishrugby.ie.

Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, talks about the target of a top three finish for both the Ireland Men and Women in Lisbon this weekend, as they continue on their quests for Olympic qualification.

Tom Daly, who recently captained the Ireland Men's Sevens team to the European Division C and B titles, is looking forward to playing in this weekend's Rugby Europe Olympic Repechage tournament in Lisbon, Portugal.

Ireland will host the 'Women's Sevens Dublin' at UCD on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23. Tournament director Garrett Tubridy and Ireland stars Lucy Mulhall, Jenny Murphy and Louise Galvin speak about their excitement ahead of the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series qualifier.

Coach Allen Clarke and stand-in captain Billy Holland answer questions from the media following Emerging Ireland's 45-12 victory over Georgia in the final round of their successful Tbilisi Cup campaign.

Emerging Ireland coach Allen Clarke speaks about his side's five-try 33-7 win over Uruguay in the Tbilisi Cup and the first half injury to captain Rhys Ruddock. They wrap up the tournament against hosts Georgia on Sunday.

Speaking about the floods that occurred following the Tbilisi Cup's first round, Emerging Ireland team manager Joey Miles said: "A natural event like that, a tragedy like that puts the game of rugby into perspective. We express our regrets to the Georgian people and the Georgian Union for the terrible tragedy that they had."

David O'Reilly from the IRFU Charitable Trust's Corporate Patrons Committee speaks about the new scheme which provides businesses with unique networking opportunities and provides a platform for companies to effectively activate their CSR programmes. For further information, please contact Linda Black of the Charitable Trust - telephone (01) 6473866 or email: linda.black@irfu.ie / http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/34728.php.